ENERGY
n Do so sustainably by connecting the growing number of renewable energy sources and maintaining grid stability.
For hospitals, failure of the utility supply is not theoretical, and diesel standby generators provide a proven, well understood critical last line of defence.
Guaranteed resilience against mains failure Taking full advantage of decades of engineering maturity, most diesel generating sets are able to achieve the rapid start, run up, and load acceptance requirements of HTM-06. Correctly installed, well maintained, and regularly tested (including load bank tests) a diesel generating set will provide years of reliable service. For large hospitals, multiple theatres, labs, sterilisation suites, cooling, etc., the peak load is significant. Diesel generators scale well (multi-megawatt systems) and for standby duty can have favourable life cycle cost profiles – especially when amortised over many years. Today, there is regulatory and procurement certainty
surrounding diesel generation, and the scope of performance and deployment is well defined under HTMs and BS/EN standards, and familiar to NHS procurement frameworks. HTM-06 also provides clarity on maintenance and testing. The introduction of new technologies will bring with it the requirement for additional validation or proof of performance in the healthcare context, which adds time and risk to any installation. As the go-to technology of choice, all hospitals already
have diesel standby generation assets installed, whether in plant rooms or containers. All of these installations are fully
Correctly installed, well maintained, and regularly tested (including load bank tests) a diesel generating set will provide years of reliable service.
integrated into the hospital electrical distribution system, supported with all the necessary ancillary elements and maintained by trained staff. Replacement or augmentation must build on this legacy. Removing or marginalising diesel generating sets entirely would require a significant design rethink and infrastructure rework of all major critical power system plant and how it operates.
Challenges and drivers for change While diesel standby remains central, there are pressures and challenges that are pushing hospitals, their estates teams, consultants, and contractors to consider how diesel generating sets can evolve, be supplemented or replaced.
n Environmental / emissions legislation Stricter limits on CO₂ in general, CO, Nitrous Oxide (NOx), Particulate Matter (PM), and other engine emissions, plus local air quality considerations.
n Carbon reduction / Net Zero targets The NHS is under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Diesel generators, especially on test runs or inefficient duty
September 2026 Health Estate Journal 57
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